Joel Parrish is a senior on the Thunder men’s tennis team. So far this season, Parrish is the team leader in singles victories with an 18-5 record while also tallying a 16-7 mark in doubles play. Below is a brief interview with Joel.
Q: What is your major?
A: Economics.
Q: What plans do you have after graduation?
A: I will be an associate in the Rotational Development Program at the headquarters of Edward Jones Investments in St Louis, Missouri. I am also getting married at the end of June!
Q: Why did you choose to attend Wheaton and play tennis?
A: I chose to come to Wheaton mainly because I had a sense that I could really thrive in this Christian community. From the first time that I visited, I felt welcomed and had a lot of peace that this was where the Lord wanted me to be. Having played tennis for most of my life prior to college, I also had a strong desire to keep playing at the collegiate level, and knowing that I had the opportunity to do that at Wheaton sealed the deal for me.
Q: What do you enjoy most about Wheaton?
A: The relationships I have formed here are special to me and I value the fact that Wheaton is so community-oriented. Being able to consistently build deep friendships is a great blessing, and I’m going to miss the chance to do that so readily after I graduate.
Q: With the tennis team riding a long win streak, how has that experience been? Is this the best you’ve seen the team play in your four years?
A: This winning streak has been a huge boost for the team, no question. What I’m most proud of is that, to this point, we have managed to play our best in the matches that have mattered the most, namely against our conference opponents. I would say that, yes, this is the best series of play that I have experienced with the team in my four years, and I feel privileged to be a part of it.
Q: What is your favorite tennis memory so far in your time at Wheaton?
A: This is a tough one, but I would have to say that it was the entire week of play that we had after Easter weekend this spring. Finding a way to win three-straight conference matches, with each one getting progressively closer, was a big feeling of accomplishment for our team. It felt especially good to get a team win against Carthage [College] because they have won the conference title the past eight years, and we had also not won a dual match against them in my entire time at Wheaton leading up to it. However, I know that I speak for all of the guys when I say that I hope our best memory is still to come – it is our goal to win the conference tournament this year, and we’re going to do everything we can to make it happen.
